Arab Coalition announces truce for two weeks in Yemen

RIYADH — The Arab Coalition to restore legitimacy in Yemen announced a comprehensive cease-fire for two weeks, beginning Thursday, according to a coalition statement carried by Saudi Press Agency.

The move, the coalition says, is based on its previous announcement on March 25, endorsing the internationally recognized Yemeni government’s decision to a truce following a call by UN Secretary General Special Envoy to Yemen Martin’s Griffiths for warring parties to lay down their weapons taking into consideration of the coronavirus pandemic.

“The coalition announces a comprehensive cease-fire in Yemen for a period of two weeks, starting on Thursday, April 9, at 12:00 a.m. local time, which can be extended in order to create the conducive conditions to implement the invitation of the UN Special Envoy for Yemen to hold a meeting between the legitimate government and the Houthis,” the coalition statement added.

According to the coalition statement, the meeting would also include and a military team from its side. All parties are expected to hold a meeting under Griffith’s supervision to discuss his proposals on steps and mechanisms for a permanent truce in Yemen, steps to build humanitarian and economic confidence, and the resumption of the political process between the Yemeni parties to reach a political solution in Yemen.

“The joint forces of the Alliance to Support Legitimacy in Yemen finds an opportunity to join all efforts in reaching a comprehensive and lasting truce in Yemen, and agree on serious, concrete and direct steps to alleviate the suffering of the brotherly Yemeni people and will greatly support all these basic steps with the United Nations to reach a comprehensive and just political solution agreed by the Yemenis,” Col. Turki Al-Maliki, the official spokesperson of the coalition was quoted as saying.